Siqsiq enjoys walking the trails in the Village of Kingston park. For her it is the chance to savour the scent trails, not found at home on the property in Paradise.
We added some extra dimensions to the trip. Rather than taking the direct route along Highway #1 or #201, we explored the country roads, along the edge of South Mountain from Nictaux Falls to Torbrook, Tremont to Greenwood.(page 55-56,Nova Scotia Atlas). This route offers spectacular views across the Valley to see the forest cover on North Mountain.
In Greenwood, we stopped at the Inside Story. On the newspaper rack, I spied A Plague Year Reader. It was free ‘Being a sampler of books issued by Gaspereau Press in the complicated year 2020’. The catalogue, of course, was beautiful in its black cover design.
For each publication, it includes the object, synopsis, about the author, Q & A with the author. The section headings are poetry, prose and limited editions. Within prose, I gravitated to Lost River: the Waters of Remembrance by Harry Thurston and Maud Lewis: creating an icon by Ray Cronin. Under limited editions, Wendell Berry. Notes: unspecializing poetry and Aldo Leopold Wherefore Wildlife Ecology ?
There was also time to purchase a book: Oliver Sacks’ Everything in its place, published in 2019. Sacks died in 2015.
So far, I have enjoyed ‘Remembering South Kensington’. I remember, too, the museums of South Kensington, especially the Natural History and Science museums. The result of a childhood, living in West London.
On the back cover, Maria Popova, Brain Pickings comments:
“Everything in its place is a wondrous read in its entirety, irradiating Sack’s kaleidoscopic curiosity across subjects”.
I look forward to reading the remainder of Sack’s collection.
Check out, Brain Pickings, March 14, 2021 Wendell Berry’s poem, written in 1968, The Peace of Wild Things.
Postscript
With the occasional Spring day, we have been able to get into the orchard for the annual pruning. A delight !
Addendum
This is for Rocky Hebb
Let us read Nova Scotia Premier Iain Rankin‘s, Rethinking our health and wealth. Chronicle Herald D3, updated March 13th.
“We will be asking whether existing programs are affordable, but more importantly asking whether they enhance our lives and livelihoods, and whether they sustain or harm the environment.”
Well, Mr Rankin, we will be watching closely how your actions sustain the environment. We have not been too impressed by your actions, when you had direct responsibility for this portfolio, under former Premier, Stephen McNeil. Specifically, the question of spraying and clearcutting of the forested landscape.
Acknowledgements
Heather and Siqsiq shared the walk and drive. Staff at Gaspereau Press and the Inside Story for their service to the community.
References
Andrew Steeves, 2021, A Plague Year Reader, Gaspereau Press.
Oliver Sacks, 2019, Everything in its place: first loves and last tales, Vintage Canada.
Maria Popova, Brain Pickings, March 14, 2021.
Iain Rankin, Rethinking our health and wealth. Chronicle Herald, updated March 13, 2021, page D3.
Ernest Blair Experiment 